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“Is it a self-portrait?” I growled toward Lex’s cocky tone, already on edge and ready to fight someone. He stood there in his all black outfit like that was the only clothing he owned. For all Iknew, it was, but for the interest of the event today, all of us were to wear black and non-distinct shoes.
“Naw, that looks like the chicken scratch of a wolfish love letter. Is that for our love?” Avery flew next to Lex like they were best buds, which was only when they liked to gang up on me. Dicks.
My muscles bunched as I felt them bulk out, my skin taught as it stretched around the growth. I was letting my wolf come out to have a little play. Maybe I could let him carve up these two, hoping that we had enough time for them to heal before Rayla arrived. I knew she would be pissed if she showed up and they were all scratched up.
“Quit it. Look. She’s on her way.” Falcon's glacier voice cut through as he shoved his tablet in our faces. Our mate was on her bike, riding like the fires of hell were licking at her feet as she turned off on the dirt road. She’ll be here soon. My wolf purred in my chest, letting me know his excitement at having his mate close to him. He was ready to stretch out his legs and have some fun with his mate.
Falcon took it back and hit a few buttons before throwing it into the passenger seat. “It's time.” He flicked his fingers over his car, reciting out a few words three times before the cars all shimmered to disappear before our eyes.
“How long have you been able to do that?!” Avery’s shocked voice said as his eyes widened comically, and he pointed to his non-existent car. Falcon rolled his eyes, pinching his lips before narrowing his eyes in his we-don’t-have-time-for-this look. We got that one so often that it was easy to spot now.
Cosmo, usually the one to not get in between many of the bickering fests we had, was the first to join Avery’s side. “For once, I actually agree with the winged fucker. This could’ve been useful.”
Cosmo’s glare made Falcon’s frown deepen before Lex chimed in. “He probably didn't even think about it until we started to make plans for this game. You know he makes the best stuff for Rayla.” When Falcon’s cheeks turned red and his eyes shifted, Lex clapped his hands and hooted out, “I’m right! Oh, man. I think I should start keeping track of all the times I’m right. Like, I need one of those detective notepads that I can keep in my back pocket.” He flattened his palm, pretending like he had one of those notepads and a pen now.
“Lex, one hundred and fifty-six. Avery, surprisingly, fifteen.” He gave him a thumbs up before looking back to his hand. “Falcon, twenty. But we all knew that.” He rolled his eyes before continuing. “Ax, like, two.” His gaze pointed at me. “You know why.” I closed my fist, thinking about how good it would feel if I sank my claws into his gut and ripped it all out. I bet he would bleed so good.
“And Cosmo . . . One.” He grinned to himself as Cosmo glared at him like he could kill him with just his eyes. Lex didn't even look up when he pointed at Cosmo. “I can feel that. Now it's a negative one. Keep that up, and I’ll have to move you to a negative two.”
Cosmo’s face twisted up, his fists balled, and he took a step forward before Avery flew in front of him with his hands out. “Don’t. We’re running out of time, and Falcon still has to put the rune spells on us. Deal with it later or, you know, or never . . .It’s Lex.” Avery shrugged like that explains everything, and while it was infuriating to hear it did make you re-evaluate why even engage with him when he was so slippery with his shadows and would just try to get on your nerves again. It was better to just ignore him . . . if you could.
Falcon sighed as he marched past all of us. “Clearing, now. Then I can magic you all. Hurry up.” All of us quickly followed Falcon, not wanting to miss out on a major part of the plan.
We walked in silence, but my wolf began to pick up on all of the nocturnal creatures making noises. It had been six months, and my wolf and I felt like we’d barely made a dent in learning about our new home and surroundings. Dust kicked up at my feet as I saw the shining eyes of a bobcat watching us. I learned really quickly that the desert forests of Nevada were definitely different from the lush forests in Montana. Everything here was so dry. Even the woodland trees were thin and sparse, not creating a lot of ground foliage. Also, the bushes here were just as big as some trees, but could offer a lot more coverage.
Hunting in these kinds of woods would be different then the full, dewy ones I was used to . . . but the one thing that you couldn't get elsewhere were the amazing sunsets. Miles of clear skies filled with pinks, yellows, oranges, and purples, so vivid it was like someone painted it. You could see all of it in its full glory, casting its lights throughout the whole sky, all the way to the horizon.
Little kangaroo rats scurried beside us into a thorny bush for safety. I took a second, calling my wolf forward, and I leaned up to the sky and gave a large howl, warning all the animals aroundthat there was a hunt going on nearby, and if they didn't want to get caught up in it, they needed to take cover.
We finally came to the clearing. Cosmo and I had moved the trajectory of the dirt road to veer off and come to a stop at this very clearing. It took a lot of work, but it was essential. She might already be pissed at us for the cameras, the secrecy, but this would all be worth it when she gets here. Then the real fun could start.
My wolf surged forward, his excitement at this plan of ours was overflowing my body. Now that the time was here my body shook as he tried to force a shift. I closed my eyes, focusing on my human body and keeping it in place. He whined in my head while I reminded him that for this to work, I was not going to be able to do a full shift. To keep things as anonymous as we could, I needed to keep my human body for this hunt, but that didn't mean that I couldn't use my wolf eyes, strength, and nose. He needed to be satisfied with that.
He huffed at me, swiping a claw at me in my head, but didn’t take it further, reluctantly agreeing with me.
“All right. Everyone stand in a semi circle around the entrance and put on your masks.” Lex skipped forward, pulling his full-face silver mask down. We all had the same plastic mask; silver, covering all facial features, only supplying the eyes, nose, and mouth with grates for breathing. This and all of us wearing black was supposed to help with the magic Falcon was about to enact.
Falcon closed his eyes, mumbled a few words, and a bright blue circle with rune words showed up at his feet, lighting up hiswhole space. I looked around, worried that it was too bright and it would give away what we were doing.
Falcon’s eyes snapped open, showing an elysian, bright, blazing blue, when he lifted his hands toward us and spoke the words. Air magic was in his left hand as water was in his right, and they twisted together, making a circle in front of us as his voice took on a hollow tone.
It only took a few sentences, and I felt magic surrounding me, settling in around my form. I looked down at my hand, and while I could see a hand-like figure, it was definitely blurred out, not even able to make out my tattoos. It was like there was an air and water barrier around me, moving with my body, concealing me.
“This spell will be active until your mask is removed. As soon as that happens, it will immediately drop away. While this is not foolproof, it should create the atmosphere of the five of us being the same person . . . relatively.” I looked up at Falcon, the mask was on, and his voice changed into a robotic deep one that sounded so unlike him it was almost comical. Each mask had a voice changer built in, it went with the whole mask, black pants, and hoodie, keeping the anonymous vibe we were going for. Partnered with Falcon’s magic, it should be difficult for her to pick out which of us was which.
The sound of a bike closing in on us had us all paying attention to the light-haired hellion goddess on her way now. I suddenly felt a jolt of nervousness.What if she didn’t like this? What if going along with Lex’s idea was stupid?
I looked around until I got to Lex, who threw a thumbs up and said in that weird automated voice, “I'm so excited guys!” For some strange reason, this seemed to calm my nerves, and I pulled my gaze forward, waiting for my mate.
She pulled up quick, bringing up dust as she quickly kicked down her stand and swung her leg over her bike, coming up on us like this was just another day. One that she was pissed about. “What the fuck guys? You send me all over the city so you can play out,” she made a show of looking around at each of us, throwing out her hip as she crossed her arms, “a creepy quintuplet fantasy?”
Lex was the first one to burst out laughing. All of us turned toward him, bent over and howling like a hyena. The fuck, man?! He was going to give this all away!
“Quintuplet! That’s brilliant. You're the funniest woman, but no. This is your gift from all of us.” When she shifted back, giving each of us a what-the-fuck look, I almost went over to wring the demon’s neck.
“A sexual fantasy for our mate. One filled with excitement and feisty adventure. All we need to do now is pick a safe word and say ready, set, go, for this game of prey and predator to start!”
Her eyes widened as her whole face shifted, orbs glittering, and her arms unfurled as she shook with excitement. “Oh! Oh, my god! Seriously! Like, you’re going to chase me and fuck me?! Like, all of you!?”
